Alan Jones fights to legalise medical marijuana

Sunday 31 August, 2014

Comment from Peter Saxon

It’s not hard to figure out on which side of the political fence Alan Jones sits. For 25 years he’s been the cheerleader in chief for the Liberals while booing the opposition at every opportunity. Yet, more recently, he’s taken on causes that have been left leaning, to say the least.

Jones’ vehement opposition to drilling for coal seam gas using a process called “fracking” is more akin to Greens policy than to those of the LNP. But his support for the legalisation of medical marijuana for the terminally ill will surprise most who have pigeon holed him long ago – which makes his argument even more compelling.

Among those most surprised are the Federal and State health ministers of both stripes for whom the mere mention of the M word spells political poison. According to a poll of health ministers taken by the 7 Network’s Sunday Night program, apart from the Northern Territory’s Robyn Lambley, who would not comment either way, all the others were firmly against any changes to the law in regards to marijuana, medical or otherwise.

Yet, there was Jones on Sunday Night, filmed in his natural habitat at 2GB - perhaps the last of his species of tie wearing radio presenters in captivity - making an impassioned plea to the pollies to show some compassion and help ease the suffering of cancer patients by changing the law

In the studio with him was 24 year old Dan Haslam with his mum and dad. Dan, whose body is riddled with cancer, is undergoing a debilitating course of chemotherapy in the slim hope that it will save his life. His father, Lou, a former drug squad detective, has illegally procured supplies of medical cannabis oil in an alternative bid to halt the progression of his son’s disease. Cannabis is also the only thing that has been able to effectively manage Dan’s nausea, vomiting and poor appetite.

"I have never felt like I am breaking the law… If I am trying to save my son from the hell he goes through every fortnight then it’s completely the right thing to do." Lou told Sunday Night reporter Helen Kapalos.

Singled out for special attention by the program was the NSW health minister Jillian Skinner who was shown to possess stone hearted indifference to Dan’s plight. But by Monday night, the minister was on air indicating that she was now prepared to reconsider her position.

When it comes to immovable objects, Alan Jones can be an irresistible force. In this case, through the power of his radio program, he’s been able to enlist the help of Channel 7, to at least start a conversation about legalising some drugs in some circumstances – a topic that has traditionally been taboo for those with a conservative bent.